To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

Seabury, 148 pages,
Reviewed by JAMES
IN THIS SLIM VOLUME, we find a collection of 12 helpful and balanced essays on
the general topic of youth ministry. Author
Michael Warren possesses the happy combination of an appreciation of contemporary theology and a pastorally
oriented understanding of today's youth-
He tells us the themes of spirituality and
culture bind the essays together and constitute his real interests.
In the introduction we find a brief
explanation of four dimensions of a full
youth ministry: a ministry of the word
which elucidates the meanings found in the
community of believers; a ministry of worship providing nourishment through celebration; a ministry of guidance and counseling which includes education; and a
's great love injesus Christwho reveals
to us the possibilities of human existence
and calls us to help form a beloved community where service to others, especially
the marginalized, is real. To do this effectively, aduit minister's must get to know
some young people at a deep level and
then share with them their own experience
of the gospel.
In chapter three, Warren shows how he
would engage young people in discovering
their own life stories, stressing the importance of gaining perspective, being aware
of the good elements which are often neglected and understanding the stories of
other people.
Parents and others who want to be trustworthy guides for youth are advised in
chapter four to place their ministry in the
context of lifelong religious development
by respecting the gradual development of
young people, by attending to their own
continuing faith development as adults and
by trying to improve the quality of parish
life where youth are nurtured.
great questions by TV and other factors, to
come to grips with what they really treasure.
In chapters seven through 10, social and
political themes are raised. Some contemporary music (for example, Donna
Summers' "Love to Love You Baby") is indicted as being sexually titillating and
blatantly sexist. The great importance of
educating youth to a critical awareness of
the visual images which can subtly manipulate consciousness is stressed. Some helpful suggestions are offered for weekends-
questions of peace and hunger and the privatizing tendencies of our culture are exposed.
Warren's great ability is to take the insights of important thinkers such as Karl
Rahner, Bernard Lonergan, Gregory Baum,
Erik Erickson and Paulo Frelre and apply
them creatively to the contemporary youth
scene. At times I wanted to see some of
these ideas treated in greater depth or with
greater advertance to their context. However, my own experience in teaching
undergraduates suggests my biggest
reservation about the book. The students
in my limited sampling at a state university
demonstrate little understanding of their
own religious tradition and a surprising
anger about this situation. "All we did was
have parties and discussions and we never
really learned anything" is a common
statement of the problem.
This makes me think there should be
more emphasis within Warren's comprehensive approach on.communicating the
essentials of the Christian faith, on teaching religion in an academically sound fashion, on giving teachers proper theological
training and on overcoming our widespread religious illiteracy.
Warren is surely correct to subsume
education under the wider notion of ministry, and his criticisms of previous "content approaches" is telling, but this does
not absolve us from working to improve
our explicit efforts to pass on an understanding of our religious heritage. We need
to find better ways of ensuring that young
people recognize the nature and importance of religion in human history, have
some knowledge of the world's great religions, know the stories which shaped their
own religious tradition and understand the
essential teachings of their own church.
Despite this reservation, I think all who
are engaged in youth ministry will find
valuable insights and helpful perspectives
in this fine collection of essays by a man
truly in touch with the field.
ministry of healing which responds to the In the fifth chapter, Warren presents
particular types of brokenness experi- three models of youth ministry: one which
ises on trying to keep the young in
ter one the author describes how, - "h wjth the church trough sports pro-
since the middle 1970s, there has been a Srams' dances' and such; a second which
resurgence in youth ministry. Its character- centers on content by offering education
istics: education is placed within the larger ProSrams; and a third, obviously preferred
notion of ministry; catechesis is seen as the b^ the auth°r> which focuses on corn-
function of the whole community of faith mumon bY inviting young people to dis-
and is lifelong; and youth are themselves cover and share theirown gifts through,for
called upon to contribute their gifts to the examPie' weekends of reflection, Lenten
well-being of the larger community.
second chapter invites adults to consider, "Why do I engage in youth ministry
at all?" The author's own response is based
on his personal sense of the revelation of
Father James Bacik is campus minister at
the University of Toledo, Ohio.
study opportunities, continuing programs
of service to the needy and regular gatherings for prayer.
Chapters six, 11 and 12 deal with spirituality. Adults are advised to strive for an
active patience with the developmental
struggles of teens and to motivate young
adults, who are anesthetized against the

Seabury, 148 pages,
Reviewed by JAMES
IN THIS SLIM VOLUME, we find a collection of 12 helpful and balanced essays on
the general topic of youth ministry. Author
Michael Warren possesses the happy combination of an appreciation of contemporary theology and a pastorally
oriented understanding of today's youth-
He tells us the themes of spirituality and
culture bind the essays together and constitute his real interests.
In the introduction we find a brief
explanation of four dimensions of a full
youth ministry: a ministry of the word
which elucidates the meanings found in the
community of believers; a ministry of worship providing nourishment through celebration; a ministry of guidance and counseling which includes education; and a
's great love injesus Christwho reveals
to us the possibilities of human existence
and calls us to help form a beloved community where service to others, especially
the marginalized, is real. To do this effectively, aduit minister's must get to know
some young people at a deep level and
then share with them their own experience
of the gospel.
In chapter three, Warren shows how he
would engage young people in discovering
their own life stories, stressing the importance of gaining perspective, being aware
of the good elements which are often neglected and understanding the stories of
other people.
Parents and others who want to be trustworthy guides for youth are advised in
chapter four to place their ministry in the
context of lifelong religious development
by respecting the gradual development of
young people, by attending to their own
continuing faith development as adults and
by trying to improve the quality of parish
life where youth are nurtured.
great questions by TV and other factors, to
come to grips with what they really treasure.
In chapters seven through 10, social and
political themes are raised. Some contemporary music (for example, Donna
Summers' "Love to Love You Baby") is indicted as being sexually titillating and
blatantly sexist. The great importance of
educating youth to a critical awareness of
the visual images which can subtly manipulate consciousness is stressed. Some helpful suggestions are offered for weekends-
questions of peace and hunger and the privatizing tendencies of our culture are exposed.
Warren's great ability is to take the insights of important thinkers such as Karl
Rahner, Bernard Lonergan, Gregory Baum,
Erik Erickson and Paulo Frelre and apply
them creatively to the contemporary youth
scene. At times I wanted to see some of
these ideas treated in greater depth or with
greater advertance to their context. However, my own experience in teaching
undergraduates suggests my biggest
reservation about the book. The students
in my limited sampling at a state university
demonstrate little understanding of their
own religious tradition and a surprising
anger about this situation. "All we did was
have parties and discussions and we never
really learned anything" is a common
statement of the problem.
This makes me think there should be
more emphasis within Warren's comprehensive approach on.communicating the
essentials of the Christian faith, on teaching religion in an academically sound fashion, on giving teachers proper theological
training and on overcoming our widespread religious illiteracy.
Warren is surely correct to subsume
education under the wider notion of ministry, and his criticisms of previous "content approaches" is telling, but this does
not absolve us from working to improve
our explicit efforts to pass on an understanding of our religious heritage. We need
to find better ways of ensuring that young
people recognize the nature and importance of religion in human history, have
some knowledge of the world's great religions, know the stories which shaped their
own religious tradition and understand the
essential teachings of their own church.
Despite this reservation, I think all who
are engaged in youth ministry will find
valuable insights and helpful perspectives
in this fine collection of essays by a man
truly in touch with the field.
ministry of healing which responds to the In the fifth chapter, Warren presents
particular types of brokenness experi- three models of youth ministry: one which
ises on trying to keep the young in
ter one the author describes how, - "h wjth the church trough sports pro-
since the middle 1970s, there has been a Srams' dances' and such; a second which
resurgence in youth ministry. Its character- centers on content by offering education
istics: education is placed within the larger ProSrams; and a third, obviously preferred
notion of ministry; catechesis is seen as the b^ the auth°r> which focuses on corn-
function of the whole community of faith mumon bY inviting young people to dis-
and is lifelong; and youth are themselves cover and share theirown gifts through,for
called upon to contribute their gifts to the examPie' weekends of reflection, Lenten
well-being of the larger community.
second chapter invites adults to consider, "Why do I engage in youth ministry
at all?" The author's own response is based
on his personal sense of the revelation of
Father James Bacik is campus minister at
the University of Toledo, Ohio.
study opportunities, continuing programs
of service to the needy and regular gatherings for prayer.
Chapters six, 11 and 12 deal with spirituality. Adults are advised to strive for an
active patience with the developmental
struggles of teens and to motivate young
adults, who are anesthetized against the